Internal communication on mental health in the German technology industry

: what does generation z really want?

Abstract

With Generation Z entering the workforce, organizations have new employees of unique characteristics, attitudes and needs. Not only is the mental health of Generation Z often worse than those of other generations, but when working in the technology industry, employees are often suffering from burnout or stress, influencing their overall mental health. Therefore, organizations have started to support employees on mental health and wellbeing through internal communication. Yet, limited research available, which is why this dissertation aims to answer the following research question: “How can internal communication strategies be affected by the mental health needs of Generation Z employees in the technology industry in Germany?". Through a mixed method approach, a quantitative survey of 107 answers of Generation Z employees in the German technology industry uncovered their opinions and attitudes towards mental health communication. At the same time, seven qualitative interviews with internal communication and/or human resource experts investigated current strategies on mental health in the technology industry, to draw a comparison between the strategies utilized, and those wanted. The results show that while there is an overall alignment between the current strategies and needs of Generation Z, organizations need to pay more attention to topics that are relevant to the generation, as well as shifting away from simply communicating about the topic, but truly integrating it into their overall strategies to ensure employee engagement.

Date of Award	13 Jan 2025
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	João Simão (Supervisor)